Safety latch plate



1938. D. R. RICHARDSON SAFETY LATCH PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1937 M T ng v Inventor fi jafi/ca r0100 Attorneys Jan. 4, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A iiorneys Patented Jan. 4, 1938 A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,104,309 SAFETY\LATCH PLATE Dean R. Richardson, New Kensington, Pa. Application May 22, 1937, Serial No. 144,253

4 Claims.

This invention is a device for use on narrow and standard gauge tracks to hold switch-points in place.

An object of the invention is to provide a device 5 of this character which may be used with equal facility on railroad tracks and on mine car tracks, and which, when in use, will prevent switchpoints from opening causing wrecks and injury.

The invention, together with its objects and 19 advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings: wherein,

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating the application of the invention to a railroad track.

15 Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating 20 the application of the invention to a mine track.

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which the device operates.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the safety member.

25 Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that the reference numerals 5 indicate the rails, which may be the rails of a standard gauge railroad track or the rails of a narrow gauge mine track. The switch-points 30 pivoted at 6 are indicated by the reference numeral T.

In Figure 1 is shown a track layout of the standard gauge type, or in other words, the layout of a railroad track and for throwing the switch- 35 points I there is provided the usual switch bar or rod 8. The switch tie is indicated by the reference numeral 9.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tie I which is spaced from and par- 40 allels the switch tie 9. Bolted or otherwise secured as at II to the, tie Ill is a tieplate l2 provided with anti-creeping lugs l3 and M for the rails 5.

The plate I2 has an edge portion l2a extend- 45 ing laterally inwardly of the tie l0 and riveted or otherwise secured to the lip or extension l2a of the plate l2 as at I is the intermediate portion of a spring latch bar l6. At the respective opposite ends thereof the latch bar [6 is provided 0 with latch heads or humps I! that work through slots l8 provided therefor in the end portions of the plate extension l2a as clearly shown.

It will thus be seen that as the switch-points or rail sections 1 are thrown in one direction or the other, said points ride over the humps ll of the latch I6, the latch plate I6 flexing downwardly to permit the switch-points 1 to ride over the heads ll. When the points 1 are in their final position, latch plate l6 assumes its normal position so that, as shown in Figure 2, one of the 5 heads ll projects upwardly into the space between a rail 5 and an adjacent switch-point 1 while the other head I1 is disposed at the inner side of the other switch-point l, the heads l1 bearing against the switch-points l as shown in 10 Figure 2, thereby releasably securing the switchpoints 1 in a desired. position and against the switch being accidentally thrown as a car passes thereover.

To prevent creeping of the plate I2, the latter is provided with pointed prongs I9 that embed themselves in the tie H] as clearly shown in Figure 2.

In Figures 4 to 6 inclusive is illustrated the application of the invention to a railroad mine track. Thus, in this form of the invention there is provided for each of the fixed rails 5a a tie plate 20 provided with spike holes 2| to receive spikes for securing the rail 51. Also, the plate 20 is provided with a lug formation at 22 that at 25 one end has bearing contact with the base flange V of the rail. 7

Plate 2!] also has an edge 20a. thereof projecting laterally beyond one side edge of the tie Illa; and in the projecting edge portion 20, and adjacent one end of the plate 20, are bolt accommodating openings to receive bolts 22.

The spring latch plate 23 is provided in one end thereof with a series of openings 24 through the medium of which and the bolts 22 the plate 23 is anchored at the desired position of adjustment to the underside of the plate extension 20a.

At the free end thereof spring plate 23 is provided with a head 24 that functions in substantially the same manner as the heads I! for securing the switch-points 25 in either of the two positions shown in Figure 5.

From a study of Figure 5 it will be seen that as the switch-point 25 is swung from the dotted line position shown in Figure 5 to the full line position shown in said figure or vice versa, the base of said rail will ride over the head 24 causing the latch rod 23 to flex downwardly to the dotted line position shown, and upon the point 25 attaining either of the positions shown in Figure 5 the plate 23 will spring upwardly to engage the head 24 with the point 25 to secure it at the position to which it has been moved.

As shown in' Figures 2 and 5 wear plates a and a, respectively, may be used in conjunction with the rivets or bolts for reinforcing the associated latch bar at the point where said bar is riveted to the tie plate I2, 20, as the case may be.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a switch structure, the combination of a fixed rail, a switch-point swingable in a horizontal plane, and in the arc of a circle toward and away from the fixed rail, a rail plate extending transversely of said fixed rail and pivoted switch-point, said plate being provided with an opening adjacent the base flange of the fixed rail, a spring keeper plate having a part thereof anchored to said rail plate, and having a free end provided with a' head normally projecting upwardly through said opening for engaging the swingable switch-point to secure the latter in either of two positions relative to the fixed rail.

2. In a switch structure, the combination of a fixed rail, a switch-point swingable in a horizontal plane, and in the arc of a circle toward and away from the fixed rail, a rail plate extending transversely of said fixed rail and pivoted switch-point, said plate being provided with an opening adjacent the base flange of the fixed rail, a spring keeper plate having a part thereof anchored to said rail plate, and having a free end provided with a head normally projecting upwardly through said opening for engaging the swingable switch-point to secure the latter in either of two positions relative to the fixed rail, and said head having a rounded edge portion over which the base of said pivoted switch-point is ridable.

3. In a railway switch embodying movable switch points, a spring keeper plate anchored intermediate its ends between said switch points and provided at its respective opposite ends with cams over which said switch points are ridable into either of two positions, said cams being adapted to laterally engage the switch points at the bases of the latter to retain the switch points against the main rail.

&. In a railway switch embodying movable switch points, a spring keeper plate anchored intermediate its ends between the switch points and provided at its respective opposite ends with cam lugs, the said ends of said spring keeper plate being flexible downwardly to permit the switch points to ride over said cams toward and away from the main rails, and said cams being laterally engageable with the switch points for holding one of the switch points against a main rail and the other of the switch points against movement toward the adjacent main rail whereby to prevent accidental throwing of the switch points.

' DEAN R. RICHARDSON. 

